Sydney Avey

The Story God Tells: A Lenten Observation

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well, ca. 1420, gold leaf, painting, etching on glass

My brain started buzzing when T.M. McNally used the Trinity as an illustration for story structure in a Lyrical Fiction writing seminar. In the creation story, he posited, Father is the subject, Son is the plot, and Holy Spirit is the metaphor. I am meditating on that.

It is a passion story filled with love and pain. He invites us to enter his story and experience his love and pain. To what purpose, we may ask. To know him and be known by him. For relationship.

The Holy Spirit is the essence of God’s story. Always present, never seen, the Spirit functions as a living, breathing metaphor. Through word and plot we may discover meaning. Through emblems such as symbols, signs, designs, or allegories we may discern an order and a plan.

In this great story, the outpouring of thought and feeling has the lyrical form and musical quality of song. The Biblical language offers beats, rhythm and structure. When we tell the story back to God through our writing, singing, art or craft, we worship.

Observing Lent

The season of Lent gives us an opportunity hone our heart, mind, and body connections by experience. Observance is a spiritual practice that strengthens faith. To that end, I have chosen 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast. by Alicia Britt Chole as my Lenten reading. The book focuses on “Jesus’ uncommon and uncomfortable call to abandon the world’s illusions, embrace His kingdom’s realities,and journey crossword and beyond.”

I feel as if I have stumbled upon a twofer. I can prepare my heart for Easter with a meaningful daily fast. And, I can balance the increased stress caused by present world conditions with a healthy decrease in engagement.

McNally wisely said in his seminar that signs don’t tell us where to go. Signs tell us to pause and think about where we are. Hitting the pause button once in awhile, be it in our speech or our striving, seems good. At the end of 40 days we can pick up our normal routines with renewed vigor or hit the reset button and try a new path.

If you are an observer, what have chosen to read and/or practice this Lenten season?